Machine for folding sheets of thermoplastic and like material



Oct. 19, 1948. M M. BALsAM ETAL 2,451,794

MACHINE FOR .FOLDING SHEETS OF THERMOPLASTIC AND LIKE MATERIAL v Filed Jan. 8, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OCL 19, 1943- M. M. BALsAM ErAl. 2,451,794

l MACHINE FOR FOLDING SHEETS OF THERMOPLASTIC AND LIKE MATERIAL Y Filed Jan. A8, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR Patented Oct. 19, 1948 MACHINE. FOR/FOLDING SHEETS 0E" THER'- 1VI013IjAS'IIC` AND LIK'E- MATERIAL l MauricelM. Balsam and HnryM; Balsam, New

York, N. Y., as'signors to M. M. Balsam, Inc.,

New York,rN`. Y.

Application January 8,

Our present invention relates "tomachines for fold-ing sheets.ofthermoplastic and likematerial-s. 1 `It isan object of this invention to provide machines. of the abovety-pewhich.aresimple in construction, linerqoensive to build-and easy to operate.' l.

It is. also an objectof our present invention vto provide a mach-ine for` folding sheets `while. applying heat tothe folded sheet portions.

A .further'object-of our present invention consists inproviding `folding machines `with a high production capacity which might be operated by persons unskilled in this 4field without `any diculty.

Another `object of ourpresent invention consists in providing on a-fold-i-ng machine of the' above type, means `for adjusting-the position of the fold made by the machine'. A

With Ithe above objectsin View our present nv-ention mainly consists-of .almachine forf producingf-olds in sheets-of `thermoplastic and like materials comprising iii-combination a-series of parts,` namely, a stationary s-upportfhaving :a folding edge, almovable supportlalso having a fold ing edge which is Aparallel to the folding edge of :the above stationary support, means'supporting .this movable support sl-idably .to and fro between inoperativen position with its folding edge spaced from the -foldinggedge ofi-the above mentioned sta-v tionary supportand operative position with? its folding edge tending to vllpress against the folding edge-of this stationary support; and, means for sliding this movable support-I` from inoperative position .into operativev yposition and back into, inoperative position, whenever required.` j

In accordance witha-preferred embodiment'of our-present invention, Weincor-poralte in 'a machine ofthe above type heating means arranged underathe above mentioned' stationary and movablefsupports so las ,to heat Athe same at and adj acent to their folding edges, thereby heating the sheet to be folded during the-folding operation.

In order toproperly operate-the movable support, .we provide spring means permanently .tending to Vslide thissup-port from its inoperative position into'itsl operative position .with its folding edges .pressing against the folding edgefo'f the stationary support; furthermore', wealsoprovi-de means-for sliding thisfm-ovabl-e suppontfagainst; action of thel above springY means yfromoperative?A positioninto inoperative position with its folding edge spaced from the fold-ing edge of the above mentionedstlati@nary suppor. whenever required.

v"Inorder toproperly place the sheetto be foldedv between the two supports, `we provide ay pushing* u arrow Blof-Figa 2;

1947, serieuze. '120,906Y 5l claims. (cuis-19) 2 member having preferably the shape of Ia pushing blade, and adaptedto force the sheet .to be folded in folded positionbetween thef-olding edges of .the above dened stationary andmovable sup# ports, when `the movable support is in inoperative position, with its Yfolding edge spaced-fromv 4the folding edge of the stationar'ysupport and form# ing Vaslot into, which the. pushing bladeA can enter. This pushing member, e..g. blade ismovably, vpreferablyv turn ably, supported by supporting brackets so as .to be :adapted to mOi/'e between inoperative position with the-pushing memberspaced `from the horizontal sheetsupports, and operative position -withthe pushingv memberilreaching into the space formedbetween the folding-edges of 'these support-S- y VCif/course, it is necessary lto provide means. for operating our= above described-machine. `These operating `means are construe-ted so as to be adapted to bemovedbetween operative end lposi tion and inoperative endpositionV and vto -actuat when-in these fend position-smeans' forsliding the mov-able'suppont so as to move the same from inoperative into operative position with the folding edgesof the supports forminga-space; between themselves and to atuate furthermore; when .in operative endl position,` y.means for moving the pushing =member `from its inoperative into its :operative position, `with the pushing member reaching into the space formedbetween the folding edges of the supports.

The -combined'operating means-defined in the precedingparagraph are; moved from inoperative end .position into operative end position` by the person operating the machine, and are automatically- `returned from' operative `intok `inoperative position by separate spring means combined withdthem. o

The novelfeatures acteristic` forlour.I invention are set for-th in, par;` ticular'in the appended claims. The `invention itself however, both-as to itsiconstruction an'dits InethodsV of operation,l together with'. additional obfjectseand advantages thereof,-wil1beqbest un- -derstood from the following descriptionsofispecic embrlndim'ents` when` read-in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which:

Fig: 1 isalperspective view of a folding machine according to onrpr-esent invention;

Eig. 2 is van elevational :sectionthrough theft-old#-` `ing-:machineshown-inFg; 1, -along1inef-2-'e-2 ofA Fig. apartial top vieW'f of 'thewfoldin'gfma-t directionrof -chineisho-wnlinligs. 1 and 2, seen in which we consider as char- Fig. 4 is a schematic View of the folding -parts of the fold-ing machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, at the moment of introducing the sheet to be folded between the folding edges of the supporting members;

Fig. 5 is a schematic View of the folding parts of the folding machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, while the folded portion-s of the sheet are compressed by the supporting members of the machine; and

Fig. 6 -is a partial section through the machine along line 6-6 of Fig. 3, showing the spring means -tending to slide the movable support toward the stationary support.

As shown in the drawings, our new machine is supported by a frame III, on top of .which .two horizontal beams II are mounted. The-se beams II .in

:turn support the horizontal plate I'2 which is firmly secured to them by screws or other means not sh-own in the drawings. `Funthermore, the

beams II also support the cross beam I3 which -isarranged parallel to and spaced from plate I2, forming a relatively wide slot I4.

The horizontal plate I2 serves as support for the movable supporting member I5, which is arranged slidably in direction of arrow I 6. Cross beam I3 serves as support for the stationary supporting member I1 which is firmly secured by screws or like means to this beam.

Each of the supporting members I5 and I1 is composed of a metallic plate covered by an insulating sheet of asbestos or like material: Thus, the movable supporting member I5 consists of the metallic plate I8 covered by the asbestos sheet I9, and the stationary supporting member I'I consists of a metallic plate 20 covered by the asbestos sheet 2I. As clearly shown in the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the two supporting members project toward each other beyond the edges of the horizontal plate I2 and the cross beam I3. In the thusformed slot I4, we arrange the heating element 22 serving for heating the horizontal supporting members I5 and I1 at and near their folding edges 23 and 24, respectively. This heating element 22 is connected -by conductor 25 with the transformer 26 and the conductor 21 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Furthermore, we provide at one end of slot I4 a thermometer as shown in Fig. 3 so as to make it possible to ascertain during operation of the machine, the temperature to which the folding edges 23 and 24 of the support members I5 and I1 are exposed.

As set forth above, the movable horizontal supporting member I5 is slidable to and fro in direction of arrow IB. It is guided during this sliding movement by means of pins 28 sliding in the slots 29 provided in the horizontal plate I2. In order to slide the movable supporting member I5 toward the stationary supporting member I1, we provide in plate I2 bores 30 and arrange within each of these bores a spring 3I permanently forcing the supporting member I5 in direction of arrow 32.

In order to insert the portion of the sheet to be folded between the folding edges 23 and 24 of the horizontal supporting members I5 and I1, we provide la pushing blade 33 mounted on the two triangular supports 34 Which in turn are secured to shaft 35. This shaft 35 is turnably supported by bearing mem-bers 36 mounted on the projecting rear ends of the supporting beams` II,. permitting turning of the shaft 35 together with the triangular supports 34v and 4 the pushing blade 33 to and fro in direction of arrow 31.

Shaft 35, the triangular supports 34 and blade 33 are turned in direction of arrow 31 as explained above, by the lever member 38 rmly secured to shaft 35; this lever member 38 is pivoted at 39 to the operating rod 40 which in turn is pivoted at 4I to the foot pedal 42, turnably attached at 43 to the frame II).

It is evident that pushing of the foot pedal 42 downward in direction of arrow 44 will result in downward movement of the triangular supports 34 and of the pushing blade 33 from their inoperative position shown in Figs. 2 and 5 into their operative position shown in Fig. 4. When the foot pedal 42 is released, the spring 45 will pull the foot pedal upward contrary to direction of arrow 44 and move the operating rod 40 in direction of arrow 46, thereby raising the triangular supports 34 and the pushing blades 33 into their inoperative position shown in Fig. 5.

In order to enable the pushing blade 33 to enter when moved downward from its inoperative position shown in Fig. 5 into its operative position shown in Fig. 4, between the folding edges 23 and 24 of the horizontal supporting members I5 and I1, respectively, we provide at each end of the rear edge of the movable horizontal support I5 an angular member 41 firmly secured to this support -by means of screws 48. Each of the angular members 41 cooperates with one of the projecting members 49 secured to the triangular supports' 34 as shown in the drawings. Each of these projecting members 49 has an inclined face 50, and is arranged so that it presses with this inclined face against edge 5I of the corresponding angular member 41 when the triangular supports 34 are tilted downward into the position shown in Fig. 4. As clearly shown in this gure this pushing action of the projections 49 will cau-se sliding of the movable supporting member I5 in direction of arrow 52; this sliding will in turn result in formation of an open slot 53 between the two folding edges 23 and 24 of the supporting members I5 and I1. This slot 53 will remain open as long as the triangular supports 34 are in their downward tilted operative end position shown in Fig. 4. The moment they are tilted upward into their inoperative end position shown in Fig. 5, the projecting members 49 will disengage the corresponding angular members 41 and the movable supporting member I5 will be forced by spring 3I to slide in direction of arrow 32 into the operative position shown in Fig. 5.

In order to properly open the slot 53 between the folding edges 23 and 24 of the supporting members I5 and I1 again when the triangular supports together with blade 33 reaches the linoperative end position shown in Fig. 5, we provide on each of the triangular supports 34, pins or similar members 54, which are adapted to engage and press against the inclined faces 55 of the corresponding angular members 41 in direction of arrow 52, when the triangular Supports 34 are in their upward tilted inoperative position shown in Fig. 5.

Proper positioning of a sheet 56 to be folded on the horizontal supporting members I5 and I1 is attained by providing on the stationary supporting member I1 a ruler like flat member 51, guided by pins 53 which pass through parallel slots 59 in the supporting member I1. These pins 58 are connected with the lever systems 60, which in turn are connected with each other by the guiding barlh llt is evidentlLthat-ftheselevensvetems: 8,6 permit onlyl parallel displacement 'of fthe rul'er like flat/membe-:1"51.`

Y Our lnewr: machines operateias-y follows:

:At the.` startoi thefiolding operationthe ma-` chine is .inl the: liinoperativefposition .shown in Fig. 2 with thelf'o'lding edges 23v and 24 Jofthehorizontal stn'aporting.` members 1 I5? and: I1' spaced fromweaoh .other :and forming a .slotfl53` between themselves First, thefsheet 561to'be foldedrislplacedon the supporting. members lr5ffandnl 1 so: that itsffront. edge yabuts against ,edgey 62Lofth'e ruler-like' flatf member 51. Then thelfootpedalzxll isapressed down-ward in .directionxofff arrow 1 IM :aresixlting fin tuunmg: of :thai triangularv ,:supports ..3'4-'1together with: the` folding-blade .33:.fromxtheir .inoperative position shown, in `Eig. 2 intd their operative vpo# sition-.L sh'owntin Figeac :In: this latter posit-oruthey folding' edges: 23 vand ,'24 cofwthe supporting unembersr. I5fland i1 are `spaced fronreaehf.` other form'- ingbetween themselves the slots53.; This is ,due

tdmovement of thetslid-able supporting plate 1I'5 .in

Afterthettriangular supportsl 34 andthe folding `blade-1 33 have` reached:theirroperative position shown in Fig. 43 thefootl pedal-Mis released' and-spring 45 permittedfztwturnthe triangular supports .34u together i with thefolding@bladery 33 intotheinoperativeposition showngin Fig. The.

moment this turning movement starts,the;rpro

jecting members 49r-rdisengage thecorresponding angular Lmembers 41,` permitting the spring, 3 I 'to move `the :slidable supporting" member il I Swinwxdirection of` arrow V32 lso as itofi-rmly" holdqthev folded portion. ofv thesheet''.

The slidablesupporting member I 5 stays in this positionpntil theI .triangularMv supports- 43I :reachv` their inoperativeposition shown ,im Fig. .5. -At that moment -thepins Slabut against thelangular:

members 4J and press the same together with the sldable-supporting.` member I5 in direction of 4ar row 52,. thus opening theslot 53 betweenf the'su-pportingmembers--IS and I1 and enabling'f-remova of the folded sheet.

, After folding the sheet 56 as explained above, the-same isremoved from the machineby simply pulling it out `from the open slot'53 formedfbetween .the folding edges 23 and 24 of theltwosuprporting members I 5 and I1.

It will` be understood` that each of the elements described above, or two lor more together, may

also find a useful application in other ftypes ofV foldingmachines differing fromthe types described above,V`

Whilegwe have illustrated and described the invention .as embodied in folding 1machinesfor thermoplastic and 1like materials, Wedo notintend to belmited. to thedetails shown,l sinceA various modifications and structuralv changes may be made without departing in any way frornl the spirit of our invention.N

v'lll/'ithoutfurther analysis, foregoing.

Ail)

6 sovfully reveal l the'` gist of our `lilmrentiorrfthat others can byI applying `current--lr'ntnwledgerendi-i3 adapt it for various applications without' omitting features that-,-` from the standpoint Aio-f priorfart," fairly constitute` essential .characteristics lof-'the generic` or.` specific aspects. of `this kinvention landL therefore, such adaptations should and: areiina tended to be comprehended. within the. .meaning and range of equivalence ofthe. following-wzrl'aims:

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i LLA. machineA for.y permanently foldingfsheets of thermoplastic and-Alike materialscomprising` in combina-tion ya stationarysupportr having fa folding edge; a movable `support having. alsoa folding 'edge being'parallelA to said folding fedgemi said .stationary support; means :supporting sail@ movable support slidably to` and fro; between inoperative position with its folding edgesspaced from: thezfolding edge of saldi, stationary: support.

and operative position with its folding edgetend-l ing topress against the folding edge; of e said stationary support; spring means permanentlyy tending to slide: said vmovable support fromlsaidf inoperative position into said .operativeftpositiom heating meansk :arranged under i said stationarysupport and said lmovable support so aste heat thesame at and adjacent to said folding-edgesthereby heating thesh'eet tofbe folded `dining the' folding operation; a pushing? bladeadaptedito force the sheet to be folded infoldedipositionf between said folding edges of saidstationary andrnovable supports when.4 said movable 'support in inoperative position with its l. folding.F edgespaced from the folding edge of saidistati-onary support; means supporting saidy pushing blade movably between inoperative position` spaced/ from said supports and operative position reaching into thev space betWeenfthe-folding edgesof said supports; first means for sliding-'said movable support against action` of said A.spring means from operative position into inoperative position when said pushing blade is in inoperative position;`

` second means for sliding this movable support against action of said spring means from opera-- tive into .inoperativeposition when said pushing" blade is in operative position; combined operating-fl means actuating said means for sliding saidf movablessupport so as to move thesarne from'v operative into inoperative position withthefold-" ng edges of said supports forming-a'spaceJib'e tween themselves and'moving said means sup porting said pushingV blade from inoperative position into operative position and back; and springmeans for automatically returning said operat`A ing means from operative into inoperative posi--A tion.

` 2. A machine for permanently foldingsheets` of thermoplastic and like materialsy comprising foldingedgefibeing parallel to said folding edge of said stationary support; means supporting said movable support slidably to and fro between in-J operative 'position with its folding edge spaced" from the folding edge of said stationaryV support and operative position with its folding edge tend#Y againstlaction of said spring means from operat tive position into inoperative position;- Secondil in combnationa stationary support `having a; folding edge; a movable -support having alsoa means for sliding said movable support against action of said spring means from operative into inoperative position; a pushing member adapted toforce the sheet to be folded in folded position between said folding edges of said stationary and movable supports when said movable support is in inoperative position with its folding edge spaced from the folding edge of said stationary support; means supporting said pushing member movably between inoperative position spaced from said supports and operative position reaching into the space between the folding edges of said supports; combined operating means adapted to ibe moved between operative position and inoperative position, said combined operating means constructed so as to actuate when in inoperative position said rst means for sliding said movable support and to actuate when in operative position the said second means for sliding said movable support and to move said means supporting said pushing member from inoperative position into operative position with said pushing member reaching into said space formed between thek folding edges of said supports; and spring means for automatically returning said operating means from said operative into said inoperative position, thereby moving said means supporting said pushing member together with the same from said operative into said inoperative position and permitting said spring means permanently tending to slide said movable support to move this support during return movement of said operating means, from its inoperative into its operative position.

3. A machine for permanently folding sheets of thermoplastic and like materials comprising in combination a stationary support having a folding edge; a movable support having also a folding edge being parallel to said folding edge of said stationary support; means supporting said movable support slidably to and fro between inoperative position with its folding edge spaced from the folding edge of said stationary support and operative position with its folding edge tending to press against the folding edge of said stationary support; spring means permanently tending to slide said movable support from said inoperative position into said operative position; first means for sliding said movable support against action of said spring means from operative position into inoperative position, whenever required; second means for sliding said movable support against action of said spring means from operative into inoperative position; a pushing member adapted to force the sheet to be folded in folded position between said folding edges of said stationary and movable supports when said movable support is in inoperative position with its folding edge spaced from the folding edge of said stationary support; means supporting said pushing member movably between inoperative position spaced from said supports and operative position reaching into the space between the folding edges of said supports; combined operating means adapted to be moved between operative position and inoperative position, said combined operating means constructed so as to actuate when -in inoperative position said rst means for sliding said movable support and to actuate when in operative posi-tion said second means for sliding said movable support and to simultaneously move said means supporting said pushing member from inoperative position into operative position with said pushing memb-er reaching into said space formed between the foldingedges of said supports; spring means for automatically returning. said operating means from said operative into said inoperative position, thereby moving said means supporting said pushing member together with the same from said operative into said inoperative position and permitting said spring means permanently tending to slide said movable support to move the same during movement of said operating meansv from its inoperative into its operative position; and heating means arranged under said stationary support and said movable support so as to heat the sameA at and adjacent to said folding edges thereby heating the sheet to be folded during` the folding operation.

4. A machine for permanently folding sheets of thermoplastic and like materials comprising in combination a horizontal stationary support having a folding edge; a horizontal movable support having also a folding edge being parallel to said folding edge of said horizontal stationary support; means supporting said horizontal movable support slidably to and fro between inoperative position with its folding edge spaced from th'e folding edge of said horizontal stationary support and operative position with its folding edge tending to press against the folding edge of said horizontal stationary support; spring means permanently tending to slide said horizontal movable support from said inoperative into said operative position; rst means for sliding said horizontal movable support against action of said spring means from operative position into inoperative position, whenever required; second means for sliding said horizontal movable support against action of said spring means from operative into inoperative position; a pushing blade adapted to force the sheet to be folded in 'folded position between said folding edges of said horizontal stationary and horizontal movable ysupports when said horizont-a1 movable support is invinoperative position with its folding edge spaced from the folding edge of said horizontal stationary support; means supporting said pushing blade turnably between inoperative position spaced from said horizontal supports and operative position reaching into the space between the folding edges of said support; combined operating means adapted to be moved between operative position and inoperative position, said combined operating means constructed so as to actuate when in operative position said first means for sliding said horizontal movable support and to actuate when in operative position said second means for sliding said horizontal movable support and to simultaneously move said means supporting said pushing blade from inoperative into operative position with said pushing blade reaching into said space formed between the folding edges of said horizontal supports; spring means for automatically returning said operating means from said operative into said inoperative position; vlthereby turning said means supportingA said pushing blade together with the same from said operative into said inoperative position and permitting said spring means permanently tending to slide said horizontal movable support to move the same during movement of said operating means from its inoperative into its operative position; and heating means arranged under said horizontal stationary support and said horizontal movable support so as to heat the same at and adjacent to said folding edges thereby heating the sheet to be folded during the folding operation.

thermoplastic and like materials comprising in 9 combination a horizontal stationary support having a folding edge; a horizontal movable support having also a folding edge being parallel to said folding edge of said horizontal stationary support; means supporting said horizontal movable support slidably to and fro between inoperative position with its folding edge spaced from the folding edge of said horizontal stationary support and operative position with its folding edge tending to press against the folding edge of said horizontal stationary support; spring means permanently tending to slide said horizontal movable support from said inoperative into said operative position; first means for sliding said horizontal movable support against action of said spring means from operative into inoperative position, whenever required; second means for sliding said horizontal movable support against action of said spring means from operative into inoperative position; a pushing blade adapted to force the sheet to be folded in folded position between said folding edges of said horizontal statonary and horizontal movable supports when said horizontal movable support is in inoperative position with its folding edge spaced from the folding edge of said horizontal stationary support; means supporting said pushing blade turnably between inoperative position spaced from said horizontal supports and operative position reaching into the space between the folding edges of said support; combined operating means adapted to be moved between operative position and inoperative position, said combined operating means constructed so as to actuate when in inoperative position said first means for sliding said horizontal movable support and to actuate when l0 in operative position said second means for sliding said horizontal movable support and to simultaneously move said means supporting said pushing blade from inoperative position into operative position with said pushing blade reaching into said space formed between the folding edges of said horizontal supports; spring means for automatically returning said operating means from said operative into said inoperative position, thereby turning said means supporting said pushing blade together with the same from said operative into said inoperative position and permitting said spring means permanently tending to slide said horizontal movable support to move the same during movement of said operating means from its inoperative into its operative position; heating means arranged under said horizontal stationary support and said horizontal movable support so as to heat the same at and adjacent to said vfolding edges thereby heating the sheet to be folded during the folding operation; and adjustable stop means arranged on said horizontal stationary support so as to enable proper positioning of the sheet to be folded on said supports.

MAURICE M. BALSAM. HENRY M. BALSAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

